Putting a set of cyclocross levers on a Nitto drop bar with lots of padding is my favorite. Now you can ride on the tops and still have the brakes at your fingers, or you can ride on the "normal" brake hoods, or ride on the drops. The widest Nitto bars give you plenty of space on the tops and are very comfortable for looong days. You get decent control on bad dirt roads (not so hot for honest singletrack) and the drops are way better than an albatross bar for gnarly decents.